The state of Georgia could face a reduction of more than $1 billion in the amount of federal money allocated to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, now known as SNAP benefits and formerly as food stamps.
According to the Georgia Institute of Policy and Budget (GBPI), the Agriculture, Food and National Security Act of 2024 could apply a reduction of up to 30,000 million dollars in the funding of the SNAP benefits program. This agency highlighted a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities that concluded that Georgia would suffer a cut of almost 1,100 million dollars over a decade, impacting food stamp recipients.
SNAP Benefits in Peril: What’s Causing the Reductions?
Ife Finch Floyd, director of economic justice at GBPI, warned in a statement that the legislation would reverse the improvements made to SNAP’s Economic Meal Plan, which helped families and individuals better cope with the rising cost of food after the high inflations of recent years.
The spokespersons of U.S. Representatives Sanford Bishop, Democrat of Georgia, and Austin Scott, Republican of Georgia, both members of the House Agriculture Committee, have not made statements on these allegations against this cut. According to GBPI, Bishop’s district would see a $139 million reduction in SNAP benefits, while Scott’s district would suffer a $97 million decrease. Similarly, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Ga. and the committee’s ranking member, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon. According to GBPI, Scott’s district would experience a $95 million reduction in SNAP benefits.
The Bill That Puts SNAP Benefits at Risk for Millions
The House Agriculture Committee recently approved the National Food and Agricultural Security Act of 2024, which effectively proposes cutting at least $30 billion from the SNAP benefits program over the next decade. This bill is sponsored by the commission’s Chairman, Glenn Thompson, and would introduce changes to the Thrifty Food Plan by adjusting eligibility requirements in line with Moderna dietary recommendations.
In Georgia, at least 300,000 people would be affected by this cut, totaling about $331 million in food purchased with food stamps. Floyd underscored the need for federal lawmakers to act quickly to pass a farm bill that protects and strengthens the SNAP program, ensuring it continues to meet the nutritional needs of families.
Are These SNAP Benefits Cuts Fair?
The proponents of these cuts assure that there will be no “unfair” reductions of SNAP benefits, but that the requirements and guidelines will be restored as they were before the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin Thompson, founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, noted that the increases in SNAP benefits during the pandemic were temporary and that this new law only rolls back the amounts to where they stood before the global health crisis.
The future of SNAP benefits for households in Georgia is still uncertain, as the bill must be approved by both the House and the Senate by September 30, the deadline for the passage of a new farm bill or the extension of the current one.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Office Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.4 percent over the past 12 months to an index level of 307.811 (1982-84=100). On the month, the index rose 0.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.
